21st Century grants to area school corporations

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. (WLFI) – Three area school corporations from the News 18 viewing area were awarded learning grants from the state of Indiana.

Five-three organizations with after-school programs were named recipients of this year’s 21st Century Community Learning Center grants. The Indiana Department of Education said these grants are designed to provide academic enrichment opportunities for students. Grants range from $50,000 to $300,000, with a total awarded for 2014 at approximately $11.1 million.

Locally, three area schools were included in the recipient list. Crawfordsville Community Schools will receive $250,000, Community Schools of Frankfort will be awarded $175,000, and the Lafayette School Corporation will be provided $150,000.

Superintendent for Public Instruction Glenda Ritz said she is honored to give these awards to organizations which work every day to strengthen our communities.

“I look forward to working with these community organizations over the coming years as we continue to increase student performance throughout Indiana,” Ritz said in a press release. “These groups work throughout the state to support student learning and development in communities affected by poverty.

Indiana Department of Education officials said the learning centers provide services to support student learning and development, including academic enrichment, tutoring, mentoring, homework assistance and cultural activities. In addition, they offer literacy and other educational services to the families of participating children.

The 21st Century Community Learning Centers program is an after school initiative authorized under the Elementary and Secondary Education Act, as amended by the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001. These programs are designed specifically to assist students who attend high-poverty and low-performing schools.